Statistics indicate that cataract is the leading cause of both congenital and acquired visual impairment. This condition occurs when a cloudy substance accumulates within the eye lens due to one reason or the other. Fetuses that have been subjected to chemical or physical trauma may present with the problem at birth. Before signing up for cataract surgery San Antonio residents need to know a number of important things beforehand.
There are several conditions that may mimic cataract making it vital for one to be thoroughly examined by an eye specialist before the diagnosis can be ascertained. The entire eye is examined for the presence of infections and other inflammatory conditions such as glaucoma. Once these have been ruled out, the client has to be evaluated for their suitability as a candidate for surgery.
A candidate that meets the set criteria is first taken through the preparation process. This entails both psychological counseling and physical preparation. The most commonly used (and effective) surgical technique is what is known as phacoemulsification. To minimize discomfort as surgery is taking place, local anesthesia is used. What this means is that one remains awake as the process takes place.
A surgical cut has to be created on the cornea to access the lens. Laser techniques have been adopted for this use to improve outcomes. In some cases the lens is usually quite hardened by the condition and has to be broken down to smaller pieces using an ultrasound probe. The lens can then be removed piecemeal.
The kind of management instituted is largely dependent on the state of the lens. A lens that has been extensively damaged has to be replaced with an artificial one. Artificial lenses are made of silicone, plastic or acrylic. Once implanted, the patient needs to start wearing prescription glasses to help with accommodation of vision. When the lens is only damaged mildly it can be cleaned and returned to its position.
The good news is that many of these operations are not associated with any complications. Only 2% of them require medical attention due to complications once cataract surgery has been performed. In the short term, some of the complications that may be encountered include swelling of the eyes, excessive bleeding and infections. Administration of antibiotics and steroids helps reduce the risk of inflammation and infections.
The surgery itself is straightforward. On average, one hour or less is needed to complete one operation. For patients in whom both of their eyes have been affected by the condition. Two operations are usually conducted within a few weeks. This provides time for the first eye to heal. You will notice marked improvement as soon as you leave the operating room and even more improvement will set in a several weeks.
The condition has been shown to recur in a small group of patients. This is primarily due to a condition termed posterior capsule opacification, PCO. During the recurrence, only the posterior part of the lens is affected. Another surgical procedure known as capsulotomy is required in such cases to restore normalcy. It is simpler than the initial surgical operation and lasts about five minutes.
There are several conditions that may mimic cataract making it vital for one to be thoroughly examined by an eye specialist before the diagnosis can be ascertained. The entire eye is examined for the presence of infections and other inflammatory conditions such as glaucoma. Once these have been ruled out, the client has to be evaluated for their suitability as a candidate for surgery.
A candidate that meets the set criteria is first taken through the preparation process. This entails both psychological counseling and physical preparation. The most commonly used (and effective) surgical technique is what is known as phacoemulsification. To minimize discomfort as surgery is taking place, local anesthesia is used. What this means is that one remains awake as the process takes place.
A surgical cut has to be created on the cornea to access the lens. Laser techniques have been adopted for this use to improve outcomes. In some cases the lens is usually quite hardened by the condition and has to be broken down to smaller pieces using an ultrasound probe. The lens can then be removed piecemeal.
The kind of management instituted is largely dependent on the state of the lens. A lens that has been extensively damaged has to be replaced with an artificial one. Artificial lenses are made of silicone, plastic or acrylic. Once implanted, the patient needs to start wearing prescription glasses to help with accommodation of vision. When the lens is only damaged mildly it can be cleaned and returned to its position.
The good news is that many of these operations are not associated with any complications. Only 2% of them require medical attention due to complications once cataract surgery has been performed. In the short term, some of the complications that may be encountered include swelling of the eyes, excessive bleeding and infections. Administration of antibiotics and steroids helps reduce the risk of inflammation and infections.
The surgery itself is straightforward. On average, one hour or less is needed to complete one operation. For patients in whom both of their eyes have been affected by the condition. Two operations are usually conducted within a few weeks. This provides time for the first eye to heal. You will notice marked improvement as soon as you leave the operating room and even more improvement will set in a several weeks.
The condition has been shown to recur in a small group of patients. This is primarily due to a condition termed posterior capsule opacification, PCO. During the recurrence, only the posterior part of the lens is affected. Another surgical procedure known as capsulotomy is required in such cases to restore normalcy. It is simpler than the initial surgical operation and lasts about five minutes.
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